Christmas Festivities

This is Ashlyn right before Church last Sunday, She wouldn't leave the headband on and took it off within seconds of me trying to put it on for a picture...

We let Ashlyn open a present Sunday night and it was a dump truck (from her daddy) I wasn't sure what she'd think, but of course LOVES it and always climbs in it and pushes it around!

On Christmas Eve at Blake's parents they gave her this puppy that sings every song/saying you could possibly think of in a child toy! She hugs it all the time and carries it everywhere she goes! It came with a play phone and another singing toy...

Ashlyn has learned to give BIG hugs and especially likes hugging people close to her size, like her cousin Charlotte...

When opening all gifts (including other peoples) this is the face Ashlyn would make, showing her excitement!!!

Ashlyn especially loved playing with the "play" food that her cousin got for her little kitchen


Christmas day we didn't really take pictures of any gift openings because it was all on video but we went to Blake's brothers house that afternoon and Blake took Ashlyn for a ride on a fun scooter...

At my parents Christmas night (we went there for dinner) they took a picture of the "1's" starting with Ashlyn (1) Greg -my brother (21) Robb -my brother (31) My Mom (51) Grandpa Salmon (71) and Grandma Bird (81).... very cool!

My parents got Ashlyn this park swing for our back patio and she was SO excited - when Blake put her in it and swung her himself she didn't want to get out and kept insisting MORE...

Well, it's almost the NEW YEAR and hard to believe that 2007 is almost to a close. We feel so very blessed to have such wonderful family and friends (near and far) and we appreciate your love and support. We hope you have a Happy and Healthy 2008 and wish you all the best! All our love~ Andrea, Blake and Ashlyn

Week At A Glance

So I'm not really brave at just feeding my daughter anything or letting her eat whatever she wants, I'm the paranoid mom that thinks she'll choke on everything, but I think I've been doing better and I've been feeding her a lot more table food... I've always fed her mashed potatoes, fries, beans, cooked carrots, bread, some meat and rice but I decided to try pasta - Blake was making fun of me because I cut them up in tiny pieces but hey at least I'm trying - right! Well we found out that she LOVES pasta with red sauce so I think I'll try mac n' cheese sometime this week! On another note - I've taught Ashlyn where her nose, ears and teeth are and she happily points to them but only when Blake and I are around!! She is also doing really well at following instruction, she's hilarious and does a totally FAKE laugh, we have to get it on video! We went to the Temple lights for Family night and Ashlyn really enjoyed it, I must say it was VERY busy and hard to move around a stroller - but very worth the try! Also my little brother Greg came home from the Detroit Michigan Mission on Wednesday and he's the last of my siblings to return so it is nice knowing we'll ALL be together for holidays from now on! He'll be heading back up to University of Utah in January to continue playing football for them! (They just won there bowl game against Navy in San Diego this past week, what a great game!) We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Straight No Chaser - 12 days of Christmas

Okay, you have to go to this link and listen to these guys - my aunt sent me the link and they are amazing! I would love to see them in concert, it is SO good - happy watching

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

FIRST snow experience for Ashlyn

We went to Flagstaff Saturday with some friends and played in the snow! Ashlyn wasn't happy about the snow at all and would yell at me the whole time while I tried to take a picture of her, she slowly warmed up to it and even let Blake put some in her hand before we went home! I will post pictures from her birthday party soon - PS - my little brother Greg gets home from his mission today, we are SO excited!

Ashlyn's FIRST Year

This is a slide show of Ashlyn's first year, It's kinda long
Happy First Birthday Ashlyn, We love you!!

Mom and Dad

FIRST Santa Experience...

FOG and 42 degrees

This is what we woke up to this morning! It is a chili 42 degrees at almost 10AM and the fog has not lifted off the ground! This rainy/wet weather we've had the last 2 weeks was nice at first but now I'm ready for sunshine and an occasional sprinkle... My dog hates going outside and it makes my last minutes shopping crazy, (will I need an umbrella or not?) Ashlyn has enjoyed the rain on her face and just laughs! We had Ashlyn's 1 year pictures taken a few weeks ago and I got them back yesterday, these are a picture of a picture... I'm really looking forward to her birthday party on Friday night with both of our families!

Holidays

Not too much to write about, just been busy Christmas Shopping and spending time with family! The cooler weather has been wonderful, as I love wearing long sleeves and sweaters! I'm so looking forward to Ashlyn's FIRST birthday next friday and celebrating her! She is a sweet baby and she really tickles my heart...Today however my husband is sick again and Ashlyn is too, they both have coughs and stuffy noses! So Sad, and I do hope it skips me! We took Ashlyn to ride the merry go round at the mall this past Friday and she LOVED it - she held on like she'd done it a million times!

Ashlyn CARMA Powell

This is Ashlyn with my grandmother Carma (whom I named Ashlyn after) I love to see them interact with one another and the bond they had immediately! Life is really all about family and also friends... I'm so grateful my grandma is family and also my friend! I adore her...




This was taken last week when we spent the whole day shopping together and getting Ashlyn's pictures taken for her first birthday! (it's sneaking up on me fast) They look so cute and cozy don't they...


My sister
in-law lent me this dress for Ashyln and I love it!
Thanks again Robin...

Thanksgiving Week

Just a quick update, my sisters family left today and we had a fantastic time with them - as well as going to Tucson for our family reunion/Thanksgiving dinner! We went to the Zoo there and it was so nice! All the kids enjoyed playing together and it was great to see my own cousins on my moms side of the family! When we got back Blake was able to go shooting with his brother Trent and I had lots of fun doing Christmas and Birthday shopping for Ashlyn, I can't believe I'll have a 1 year old in a few weeks! Here are some photos...

Party Time

This past week we had the flu bug that has been showing up everywhere and were out of commission on Tuesday (well at least Blake and Ashlyn) I was the cleaner, sanitizer, and laundry lady! It was a long, busy day...thank goodness everyone is feeling better and we've had a fun weekend - Friday night was "Girls Night" with some great friends from my junior high/freshman days and we had a fun night eating dinner at ZTejas and then over to Cold Stone for some ice cream! Even though the night began around 6PM, after dropping the girls off I didn't get home until after midnight! (Thanks Blake) We laughed SO hard and just took a walk down memory lane! We had some great times together and I must say I hope we are able to spend more time with each other! Some girls I hadn't seen in about 8 years others 6 months so it was nice to catch up either way... Today we tried to sleep in and after doing some chores headed to my parents to visit with my moms parents! We quickly went to Sportsman's where Blake splurged and purchased a rifle he's been wanting for over a year (he totally deserves it) and then off to my nephews birthday party! This party was unlike any other, the "Reptile Guy" was there and brought lots of awesome animals for us all to learn about and touch! Even Ashlyn enjoyed the snakes and lizards... tomorrow we're looking forward to my sisters family arriving for the Thanksgiving Holiday and spending some quality time together! We feel so blessed in our lives to have so many people who love and support us, and it's a HUGE blessing to have the gospel in our lives! I'm so thankful for my little family and my wonderful husband! Happy Thanksgiving

{JOY}

Who does Ashlyn look like?

I tried this with about 5 different pictures and I got the same result no matter which age Ashlyn was! I personally think she looks more like Blake and that is what most people tell me, but it is nice to see that a "meter" thinks she looks equally like me being that I carried her for 9 months (haha!) It's fun to get others opinions!

PLAYING AT THE PARK

We went to the park with some friends from our ward on Tuesday and we had so much fun! Ashlyn enjoyed the swing but wanted to watch the other kids next to her most of the time...







The slide was a big hit and she did pretty good at climbing up the steps!














The thought of eating sand crossed her mind I'm sure but I'm happy to report that it never entered her mouth! She would pick it up and look at me like this!